A couple of years ago my husband and I were studying travel options when I ran across a plethora of information about Guilin tours. We had promised ourselves that we would return to China one day and visit locations outside the typical sightseeing locations. If you ever get a chance to participate in one of these Guilin tours, don’t pass go, just grab your passport, bags and camera and get to the nearest airport. Okay, perhaps that’s a little extreme, but this is a vacation to remember for a lifetime.

Guilin features outstanding scenery and views in a region where leisure travel and outdoor experiences are abundant. I loved experiencing different cultures and history of the region while cruising down a river. If you are really adventurous the outdoor activities include experiences such as waterfall or rock climbing.

There are many tours to choose from; sightseeing, family tours with children, seasonal, adventure and experience tours. I was please to know that we could put together whatever kind of tour best fit our needs for whatever length we wanted. And, we met a lot of travelers along the way who had the same good luck in travel experiences as we did. Young and old alike toured the Guilin area with a tailor trip specifically made to fit their needs.

Take pleasure in some of the most captivating surroundings in China by embarking on Guilin tours. The hills and mountains thrust their way out of the ground while the river winds its way through the countryside and villages. Whether you decide to on a leisure or adventure vacation the unsurpassed beauty will always surround the Guilin entire area. Submerge yourself in the local culture and inherent splendor. It’s time to start planning that Guilin tour, a dream vacation.

Tibet tour
My husband had surprised me with one of the Tibet tours for our anniversary. It was a five day, four night tour of the area. There were other Tibet tours available for shorter amounts of time, but he wanted to be able to see everything the area had to offer.

We arrived at the Nepal Airport. We got a travel package which had all of our meals and hotel all included. I couldn't wait for the journey to being. The first day we took a flight over the Himalayan Ranges to Tibet. I was shaking with excitement as we saw the Kyichu River. The locals call Tibet 'Lhasa', which simply means 'Place of the Gods', because this is the home of the famous Dalai Lama. I also remember the Potala Palace well, as it was amazing. Perched up on a large hill, this palace was built for king Songtsen Gompa. There is also a garden which is called Treasure Island and it is the largest garden in the world.

The rest of the days was more site seeing. The most impressive thing we saw while visiting Tibet, was the Himalayan Ranges and the home of the Dalai Lama. Learning about their culture and seeing the locals and how they interact with tourists was amazing. I do not recommend this a trip for children. There is not a whole lot to keep them busy, thank goodness we left ours at home. It is mostly site seeing and visiting historical sites, which can become rather boring for a child.

The hardest thing about the trip was dealing with the extreme temperature fluctuations. This area has a colder nature and a great deal of UV rays, so sunscreen is needed, despite the temperatures. The air is also thin, so those with breathing problems need to ensure to they have their supplies. Taking one of the Tibet tours, is something most only get to experience once in a lifetime, but I would love to do it again.Tweet

Yangtze river cruise
Want something exciting to do for a getaway, try a Yangtze River cruise? The Yangtze River is the largest river in China. The scenery, which one can see while cruising down this river is nothing short of spectacular. Situated at the foothills of the Witch Mountains, this river is facinating. Recently completed in 2009, the Three Gorges Dam is an awesome site. This is the 'world’s largest hydroelectric power plant.' This plant alone has the ability to produce more power than 15 nuclear power plants.

The Chinese know this river as Chang Jiang. It has been used as a major import export for decades. There are several cruise ships, which one can spend time enjoying the setting. An exciting Yangtze River cruise can give one a relaxing experience. There are cruises to fit every budget, including the stars in luxury and the length of time.

Whether you want a stately suite with all the amenities, or a small space, this is a cruise ship to accommodate your needs. There are several ships including the China Dragon, New Century Cruises, President Fleet and Victoria Cruise. These cruise ships are fully air conditioned and navigated by tour guides who know the entire area and have a love for the history of the river. These ships have satellite TV, so that one can still enjoy their favorite shows. Some of the cruise ships are operated by American companies and have all the amenities of the fabulous US cruises.

Enjoy a cabin with a private balcony and an observation window. You can experience style and luxury in some of the 'European style bathrooms'. Feel like a king of queen, when you take your vacation in style with one of the several cruise ships. The mighty Yangtze River has been long known for being a fabulous vacation site, the next time you need a getaway, book a Yangtze River cruise and experience history.Tweet

Right or wrong - Good or bad?This Chinese mother has a method of parenting that hits a western nerve or two.Battle Hymn Of The Tiger Mother by Professor Amy Chua. She argues that Western parents are too quick to give in to their children, ­abandoning them to computer games and television, while Chinese offspring are rigorously drilled by their stronger, more determined mothers until they get every subject right.

Allison Pearson wondered the following in The Daily Telegraph: “Amy Chua’s philosophy of child-rearing may be harsh and not for the fainthearted, but ask yourself this: is it really more cruel than the laissez-faire indifference and babysitting-by-TV which too often passes for parenting these days?

In the Financial Times, Isabel Berwick called the “tiger mother” approach to parenting “the exact opposite of everything that the Western liberal holds dear.”

Other studies indicate that compared to Western parents, Chinese parents spend approximately 10 times as long every day drilling academic activities with their children. By contrast, Western kids are more likely to participate in sports teams.In a poll on the Wall Street Journal website regarding Chua’s response to readers, two-thirds of respondents said the “Demanding Eastern” parenting model is better than the “Permissive Western” model.

Green Tea is particularly popular in Asia in countries such as China and Japan.
Green tea has a long Chinese history.
It is said that Green Tea was discovered over 5000 years ago in China.

There are 2 legends surrounding this discovery.
The first, a man accidentally tasted the juice from a tea plant leaf, he liked the flavour and thought it was a healthy drink. He then mixed the leaf juice with water to create a drink. The beginnings of a Chinese green tea drink

The second legend states that blossom from a tea plant fell into an Emperors cup of hot water accidentally one day, after he always added the tea blossom to his drink.

For a long time the only type of tea drunk was Green Tea.

Being simple to make aided its popularity and by many it was seen as a refreshing tonic.

The “Cha Jing” or “Tea Classic” books were written somewhere around 600AD by Lu Yu and are considered 'The tea manual' – explaining how to make perfect tea and when to drink it.

Later (sometime around the 1600’s) came different types of green tea Confusing to some, Black Tea which is fermented Green Tea and Oolong which is partly fermented.

Japanese monks travelling to China often returned with tea.

It is said that the Japanese turned drinking tea into a ritual and in both China and Japan they take very special care with the presentation of the tea – in an almost artistic manner.

The new standards for electric bikes that came in 2010 which say an urban electric bike heavier than 40 kg's and capable of a speed more than 20 kilometers an hour will be subject to the laws and regulations applying to motor vehicles has caused annoyance to both riders and manufactures.
Referred to as the 20-40 standard. That means any electric bike heavier or faster than these limits will require a rider to get a license and insurance.
Most here in China will argue, I bought an electric bike for convenience, why do I need to register, license and insure my electric bike?

Apparently, with the new electric bicycle rules comes a bonus.
Those bikes that are legally registered will be able to use motorways.
Although to my mind, that can only be described as foolhardy and dangerous.
E-bike manufacturers admit that most bikes already weigh over the 40 kg limit and can travel faster than 20 kilometers an hour.
They say, the new rules will impact on their business and they expect demand will fall.
Not much sign of that. China now has over 2000 electric bike manufacturers, all complaining that they will lose business.
Add to this, once a bike is considered over the regulated size and speed limit. the Chinese electric bike manufacturer falls into the Chinese motor vehicle manufacturers grouping and then must show they have more than 100 million yuan in fixed assets and 80 million yuan of capital. I cannot see too many of them, either adhering to the law or loosing too much sleep over the ramifications.
They will just go on their merry way until...One day...

Is it the weather or is it the pollution or is it just me without those wretched rose tinted glasses on?One things for sure, it ain't what it used to be.This is a question now being asked by many here in what once was a GREEN city.Still a shade of green at ground level, if you scrape the dust and grime off first - but far from green in the skies above.The dust appears to be everywhere. Is it the extensive ongoing construction work or just dirty air blowing in from elsewhere or just another, newer Grey City in China.No matter how often you clean within hours another layer of dust appears. Keep your doors and windows shut they tell you - That might suit a Chinese rabbit but not me, I like to have air flow through a living area - Perhaps China for me is wearing a bit thin...One wonders what the summer has in store - Can you imagine it Hot, sultry, dirty and air less.

This picture taken around 9am 3rd April 2011 and that is not a heat haze...No doubt, this winter has dragged on, perhaps 4/5 months or more - Dull, dreary, often cold and most certainly, dirtier and dustier than ever before.

Not just me saying this, talk to the native Nanningers, see what they are saying online, never have they known Nanning to be so dirty, dusty and grey skyed for so long.Is Nanning now a true Chinese city? - with all that comes with it.

Maybe it's time for me to call it a day and move on to greener pastures...